Last mission to repair the Hubble telescopeHubble space telescope discoveries have enriched our understanding of the cosmos. In this special report, you will see facts about the Hubble space telescope, discoveries it has made and what the last mission's goals are.

For their own goodFifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.

The program will be "OSHA Update", presented by Keith Piercy. Dinner is included. To reserve a seat, contact Marge McQuade at 596-9802 by today.

The association is dedicated to the professional development of its members in health care practice management. Interested practice managers are invited. Call Marge McQuade, education director, at 596-9802.

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The Business Networking International will meet from 7:15 to 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays, at Silverthorn Country Club, 4550 Golf Course Lane, Spring Hill.

Bring your business cards and network with other area business professionals. Cost is $8, which includes a continental breakfast.

For information, contact Kathleen Richardson at 592-2225.

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The Home Based Women's Network, a non-compete group of women who own home-based businesses, will meet for a breakfast meeting at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday at My Fair Ladies Tea Room, 5175 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill. The cost of breakfast is $8.

New members welcome. For information, call 346-7055

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The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce will have its monthly "Networking at Noon" luncheon from noon to 1 p.m. Friday at Thai Cuisine Restaurant, 11078 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill.

Meals will be $10 for those who RSVP by Wednesday or $15 at the door. Call 796-0697.

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CrownPointe Assisted Living will have its annual open house and health fair from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday at 11291 County Line Road, Spring Hill.

The event will include free hot dogs and entertainment by Barry R., as well as tours of the facility. The health fair will include a free blood pressure clinic, free eye screenings with Stolte Eye Institute, podiatrist John Parinello, the Blood Mobile and more. For information, call 799-1422.

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Contours Express in Brooksville will celebrate its first anniversary Tuesday. The facility will offer free workouts to women who visit the gym that day.

Service Corps of Retired Executives, Pasco-Hernando Chapter 439, will conduct an interactive workshop for planning small business startups from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the SCORE office in Suite 302 of the Bank of America building, 6014 U.S. 19, New Port Richey.

The seminar will be presented in three segments: Business Concept Highlights, Core Business Elements and Financial Model Highlights, designed to emphasize the top-down approach.

The workshop will be presented by veteran SCORE counselor Dick Hall. Among several key elements covered are defining business goals and objectives, pricing policies, competitor and customer profiles, promotion/advertising approaches, sales and revenue projections, operating costs and business model legal structures.

Worksheets for each topic will be provided. Participants will be encouraged to discuss their specific business issues.

The cost is $30. Advance registration is desired, but not required. For information, call Stu May at 688-6903 or the SCORE office at 727 842-4638, or visit the Web site at www.score439.org.

BRIEFS

Changes Adult Fitness Center has announced that Elaine Naser recently earned the title of certified group exercise instructor through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America.

Naser teaches a variety of classes for various age groups and fitness levels, including include cardiovascular, interval and Latin-inspired salsa.

Hernando-Pasco Hospice welcomes Richard Young as the new chief financial officer. He will be responsible for managing and directing the financial and accounting functions for the hospice, HPH Homecare, the Hospice Foundation Inc., the Hernando Lodge and the organization's pharmacy and durable medical equipment company.

Young will be based out of the administrative headquarters in Hudson. He came to hospice from Sta-Home Health Agency in Jackson, Miss., where he served as CFO and chief operations officer since 1997. He has an MBA from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.

Hernando-Pasco Hospice also welcomes registered nurse John Wrublevski as the quality assurance performance improvement coordinator. He will monitor the effectiveness of hospice's services and the quality of care extended to patients and families.

Hernando-Pasco Hospice is a nonprofit agency serving Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties and cares for about 900 patients on an average daily basis.

Rushing has worked in the insurance industry since 1987 and specializes in life and health insurance. She is also a certified senior adviser and long-term care consultant.

The agency is at 617 Lamar Ave., Brooksville. For a confidential financial needs analysis and a free copy of The Consumer's Guide to Long Term Care Insurance, call Rushing at 796-2526.

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Dr. Robert Blackburn, a board-certified osteopathic family practice physician in Spring Hill, served as "Doctor of the Day" in the Legislative Clinic at the Florida Capitol on March 28.

Blackburn attended the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association Executive Board meeting and the 13th annual Osteopathic Medicine Day breakfast with legislators. He also volunteered his professional services to the members of the Florida Legislature and their employees.

During his visit, Blackburn, met with state Rep. Robert Schenck, Sens. Paula Dockery and Mike Fasano, Senate President Ken Pruitt and House Speaker Marco Rubio.

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Wexler Orthodontics has announced that Dr. Donald L. Wexler, has qualified as an Invisalign premiere provider for 2007. Only 5 percent of Invisalign providers in North America achieve this status, and Wexler has qualified each year since 2005.

To qualify, Wexler had to submit 15 cases during a six-month period prior to enrollment and meet minimum requirements for clinical education participation. The Invisalign system is a way to straighten teeth without braces, using a series of clear, strong aligners.

Wexler is a board-certified orthodontist practicing locally since 2001. He has offices at 1222 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill (688-0331), and at 573 N Dacie Point (County Road 491), Lecanto (352-527-9927).

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Lynda and Tim Morrison, owners of Budget Blinds of Spring Hill, were recently awarded a three-day family Caribbean cruise by Springs Window Fashions.

The reward was the result of the total sales made by the franchisee in 2006. The Morrisons were awarded a four-night, three-day Caribbean cruise that stopped at Key West and Cozumel.

The Morrisons' franchise also ranked in the top 1 percent of Budget Blinds' 1, 116 franchises for sales in January.

Oak Hill Hospital has announced the appointment of Susan Ciraulo, BSN, RN, as director of the second-floor telemetry unit.

Ciraulo comes to the hospital from Panama City, where she worked as the nurse manager of the surgical intensive care unit at Bay Medical Center. She has extensive intensive care, telemetry and coronary care nursing experience and has also worked as a nursing supervisor at her hometown hospital in Kenmore, N.Y.

Ciraulo is a certified advanced cardiac life support instructor.

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Hernando Orthopaedic and Spinal Surgery has announced that Dr. Michael W. Higgins recently attended the X-STOP/IPD system training class.

Higgins also participated in a hands-on workshop designed to familiarize him with the instrumentation and surgical technique of the X-STOP Interspinous Decompression IPD System.

Higgins specializes in nonoperative and operative management of the spine and general orthopaedic conditions. His office is at 10429 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. Call 688-6035.

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Coldwell Banker Schraut and Associates announced that Realtor-Associate Teri C. Ronk has been named to the Coldwell Banker International Sterling Society.

Membership is limited to the top 13 percent of the more than 127, 700 sales associates worldwide in the Coldwell Banker system. Coldwell Banker Schraut and Associates is at 13125 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill.

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Employees at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Spring Hill celebrated the hospital's fourth anniversary in April with a carnival and dinner. T-shirts were distributed to all staff to recognize the hospital receiving the President's Circle award that is given to the top 10 hospitals in HealthSouth.

Also, HealthSouth participated in the Spring Hill Relay for Life on April 20-21 at Springstead High.

With 18 team members, HealthSouth raised almost $2, 800.

HealthSouth is at 12440 Cortez Blvd. For information, call 592-4242.

If you have announcements you would like to share with our readers, mail the details to Jean Hayes, Business Digest, Hernando Times, 15365 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34613-6174. You may also e-mail items to jhayes@sptimes.com or fax them to 754-6133. Items may be edited for length and clarity. Photos are published as space permits; they will not be returned.